CDs + Vinyl:

AMSG – Hostis Universi Generis CD (Profound Lore)

Canada’s A.M.S.G. is one of the strangest and most controversial bands in the scene today, upholding the true ancient spirt of black metal with no compromise whatsoever. Their outsider death-worship Luciferian artistry sets them apart from all others practicing the craft. Elongated, melancholic yet vitriolic, these ritual-like hymns dedicate themselves to rejuvenating the black light. [Vinyl edition due September 9.]

Barb Wire Dolls – Desperate CD (Motörhead Music)

Electrifying rock of this magnitude did not go unnoticed by the elder statesman of the Sunset Strip, the incomparable, irreplaceable Lemmy Kilmister of Motörhead. After seeing Barb Wire Dolls live, Lemmy took an immediate interest in the band and placed them under his supportive wing. [Vinyl edition due August 12.]

The Bevis Frond – Any Gas Faster [Reissue/1990] CD/2xLP (Fire America)

The Bevis Frond – New River Head [Reissue/1991] CD/2xLP (Fire America)

The Bevis Frond – London Stone [Reissue/1992] CD/2xLP (Fire America)

Influential British psych-rock/folk back in print on CD and vinyl. “The main strength of the Bevis Frond is the exquisite songwriting, with pithy and poignant lyrics delivered in a very uncompromising English roots accent. Artists such as Teenage Fanclub, Elliott Smith and Mary Lou Lord have covered their songs, while he’s played with Current 93, The Hawklords, Oneida and Arthur Lee of Love, amongst many others — ” The Quietus

Billy Talent – Afraid Of Heights CD/2xCD (The End)

Fifth album from the Canadian alt-rock/punk band. [Available in Regular and Deluxe editions. Deluxe adds a disc of demo versions.]

Bouncing Souls – Simplicity CD/LP+MP3 (Rise)

Tenth studio album from the New Jersey punk veterans. “We set out to recapture the spirit of our earlier songs, not over-thought or over-produced. In the studio our goal was to keep it raw and real, the feeling of a band playing live.” [Limited copies pressed on ‘blood red’ color vinyl.]

David Bowie – Earthling [Reissue/1997] CD (Rhino/Parlophone)

Reissue of the 20th studio album by David Bowie, originally released in February 1997. The album showcases an electronica-influenced sound partly inspired by the industrial and drum and bass culture of the 1990s. This was the first album Bowie self-produced since his 1974 album Diamond Dogs. Includes the song “I’m Afraid Of Americans.”

[Read more…] about New Releases for July 29, 2016

CDs + Vinyl:

Aeges – Weightless CD (Another Record Co.)

Los Angeles based Aeges huff in Queens Of The Stone Age’s desert-born riffs, marry them to post-hardcore angst and spit out a riffy, melodious, volume-charged sound. Having counted members of Pelican, 16 and Juliette Lewis and The Licks in its rank, Aeges has been concocting it’s sound for the past four years: gigging with bands as diverse as Coheed & Cambria, Thrice and TOOL.

Afro-Haitian Experimental Orchestra – Afro-Haitian Experimental Orchestra CD/LP (Glitterbeat)

Afrobeat drummer Tony Allen was asked to come to Haiti and play with an assortment of leading Haitian musicians recruited by the Haitian National Bureau of Ethnology. Out of the chaos, Allen stepped up as music director, laying down beats to which were added super bass lines, voodoo rhythms, chants, and more. This album was assembled from rehearsal tapes after plans to record the live performance were thwarted by technical difficulties.

The Amazing – Ambulance CD/LP+MP3 (PTKF)

Despite reflecting Chris Gunrup’s often-bleak worldview, the music is expansive and beautiful, marked by playing that is as much free jazz as rock — pure music without any showiness. The songs unfold slowly, without a traditional verse/chorus structure, spinning gauzy webs of shimmering mystery with their own inimitable dynamic of sinuous, swirling guitars; rich, ambient bass lines; crisp percussion and restrained, church-like, keyboard textures.

Apocalyptica – Plays Metallica By Four Cellos [Reissue/1996] CD/LP (Odyssey Music Network)

Remastered reissue. As the album’s title suggests, this is a tribute album, made from instrumental cello covers of Metallica songs.

[Read more…] about New Releases for July 22, 2016

CDs + Vinyl:

16 – Lifespan Of A Moth CD/LP (Relapse)

“Relapse Records has been known for taking in bands that show massive amounts of talent in the most unlikely of places. Inter Arma and Iron Reagan being two prime examples, we have another band I’ve never heard of but have been around for ages, and Relapse have the once again shown their genius by allowing 16 to give us the most impressive sludge metal album we’ve seen for quite a while.” – Headbanger Reviews

9Electric – Damaged Ones CD (Another Record Co.)

9Electric fuse deadly electronics to an undercarriage of pure rock abandon. Imagine Ministry carpet-bombing the Sunset Strip and you’ll have an idea of what the Los Angeles quartet has in store for the world.

Agalloch – Pale Folklore [Reissue/1999] CD/2xLP (The End)

Agalloch – The Mantle [Reissue/2002] CD/2xLP (The End)

Agalloch – Ashes Against The Grain [Reissue/2006] CD/2xLP (The End)

Remastered reissues of the seminal progressive black metal band’s first three full-length albums, each with new artwork.

The Anderson Council – Assorted Colours CD/LP (Jem)

“Combining the jangle of power pop, the scorch of psych rock, the reckless abandon of garage rock and the vocal harmonies of ‘60s folks rock, The Anderson Council offer up a delicious blend of American and British pop. Their songs are fueled by crunchy guitars, heavenly harmonies and more than a few ‘ba ba bas’ and ‘la la las’ for good measure.” — Discovery Magazine

Ash Koley – Elements CD (Nettwerk)

This Canadian duo’s sound is an amalgamation of diverse influences, from the Eurythmics to Radiohead. The result is the full embodiment of what they each bring to the duo — quirky charm and upbeat classic pop music.

Awall AKA 2Piece – Rock It Like This CD (Fahrenheit)

New album from the Pacific Northwest rapper – featuring Kurupt (Dogg Pound), Krucial Barz, Mr. Ealey, Marcus Bandz (formerly Young Have-Not), Desta, and J One.

[Read more…] about New Releases for July 15, 2016